By Chris Brown

1,411 new cases in the past two days

Kenney warns tougher choices coming if COVID-19 curve isn’t bent down

Nov 6, 2020 | 4:05 PM

Alberta is at a turning point in the fight against COVID-19 says Premier Jason Kenney.

“If we don’t bend the curve down now we’ll face even tougher choices in the days ahead. But if we take smart targeted actions and each do our part, we can continue to protect people’s lives and livelihoods,” said Kenney today.

The province recorded a total of 1,411 cases since the last time the numbers were updated on Wednesday – 802 cases on Nov. 4 and 609 cases on Nov. 5. There were 26,483 tests completed over that time.

There are now 171 Albertans in hospital with COVID-19, 33 of which are in ICU, and eight deaths since the last update.

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Two days of numbers were presented on Friday due to technical difficulties yesterday.

“If these numbers continue to grow at the current pace they will put our health-care system at risk. They will put our economy at risk. And our loved ones at risk,” said the premier. “We’ve seen how hospitals get overrun in other jurisdictions around the world. We must not let that happen here in Alberta.”

Kenney said that effective immediately, the province is asking everyone in Edmonton and Calgary to stop holding social gatherings at home. Dr. Deena Hinshaw said this week that home social gatherings are the largest driver of spread in the province.

Outside of the two major cities, the mandatory 15-person limit on social gatherings has been expanded to include all communities on the “Watch” list. The voluntary measures currently in place in Calgary and Edmonton will also be extended to the “Watch” list communities.

Communities are placed on the list if they have rates of more than 50 active cases per 100,000 people.

Neither Medicine Hat or Cypress County are on the “Watch” list. The nearby regions of County of Forty Mile (201.8 rate, 13 active cases), MD of Taber (63.6, 12), County of Newell (173, 14) and the City of Brooks (238.4, 46) are on the list.

Kenney said without making these modest sacrifices to social life that “cases will continue to grow to the point where they grow are out of control and the only options we have will be far more impactful on people’s lives and livelihoods.”

Following the update, NDP Leader Rachel Notley said the government’s response to COVID-19 has been a total failure on multiple fronts.

“While I deplore the failures of the premier that have led us to this point, I strongly do urge all Albertans to follow the directions of Dr. Hinshaw, especially those that she gave today. Lives are at stake and we must all do our part to protect the lives of our families, our friends and our neighbours,” she said.

Daily updates of case numbers will return beginning this weekend.

The province is still addressing issues with updating the online dashboard and geospatial maps and so detailed case numbers are not currently available on Friday afternoon.

“The frontline systems are all working well, so there is no risk that cases are not being identified or notified right now,” said Hinshaw.

She said the dashboard will be updated on Monday and that overall daily case counts will be provided on Saturday and Sunday.

Read the full Nov. 6 update from the province here.

Saskatchewan reported 87 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, eight in the South Zones.

Saskatchewan has a total of 3,623 cases, 911 considered active. There are 2,687 recovered cases and there have been 25 COVID-19 deaths in the province.